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A drunk driver seriously injured a New Jersey police officer in a highway crash early Saturday, officials say, and he fled the scene before being apprehended. Jen Maxfield reports. (Published Tuesday, Apr 22, 2014)

Updated at 6:19 AM EDT on Tuesday, Apr 22, 2014

A high school teacher was arrested on drunk-driving charges after a crash that seriously injured a New Jersey police officer in a highway crash early Saturday, officials say, and he fled the scene before being apprehended.

Michael Ettz, 36, allegedly hit Bergen County Officer Daniel Breslin while Breslin was in his patrol car on Route 46 in Lodi at around 2a .m., according to authorities.

Breslin had pulled over to help a colleague who was having trouble with his police radio, officials said, and impact of the crash was so intense that he was trapped inside his car with head injuries and broken bones.

Ettz, a high school math teacher and a track coach, allegedly fled by foot through a nearby residential area and was later picked up by police, officials said.

Breslin was in critical condition following the crash.

Information on a lawyer for Ettz was not immediately available. Parents say he's well-liked by his students, but some questioned by was out at at all at 1:30 a.m. when there was a track meet scheduled just a few hours later.

Una Celestine said her son was "very upset" by his coach's arrest.

"That's their coach and they look up to him. And then that happens, and he was really upset to know that he's in trouble," said Celestine.

Breslin is a married father with two young children, ages 3 and 1. Friends were posting messages of support on the Bergen County Police Facebook page.